Architect Spells Out Bidding Process For Fire Station Improvements
Architect Jim Malcom addressed the Turkey Creek Fire Board Monday, May 14, explaining the bidding process for improvements to the territory’s two fire stations.
“The plans have already been submitted to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security,” he told the board.
“They wanted two different projects. We put pretty much everything into those documents to let the state know we might be doing these things, but we can cross out any of the items before the bids.”
Malcolm will request a detailed breakdown in costs from bidding contractors.
“We have to accept pricing from any vendors who want to submit a bid,” he said. “Then we will determine the quality of the bidders. I like to break it down as far as I can to base numbers instead of one figure.”
Malcolm cited electrical, mechanical, siding and roofing work as category examples.
“I also like to go into unit costs and labor costs. What is the contractor paying the electrician, for example? I also ask for the general trade markup. By knowing those numbers they can’t poke it to me with change orders.”
Malcolm said it was up to the board to delete items under consideration. “If we did everything it would be too much for the budget.”
He advised once an item was eliminated, it could be put back into the plan at a later time. “The state allows two years for document review,” he said.
Board member Tom Hoover suggested “the time to take out items is after the bids.”
Township attorney Andrew Grossnickle said he will check into the insurance requirements for the winning bidder.
The improvement plans will be made available to the public at Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St., after notification in the newspaper, said Grossnickle. The board unanimously approved a motion to proceed with the bidding process.
In other business, Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported:
• The department responded to 13 fire calls and 93 EMS calls in April, resulting in no property loss in the territory.
• Department personnel completed 397 hours of training in April.
• Five new SCBA units were received by the department. The board had approved the purchase at its April meeting.
• “Most of the firefighter personal protective equipment budgeted and approved for purchase in February has been received,” said Scott.
• The fire suppression hood system at the new Taco Bell in Syracuse was tested and no issues were noted.
The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, June 11, at Syracuse Town Hall.